Scientists from Mississippi State University’s (MSU) Northern Gulf Institute recently used a small UAS to take high-resolution images of rising waters during a major rainstorm in late February.

The images were beamed back in real time to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather forecasters.

“We were able to see the water as it rose over the course of two days, which helped our office confirm when the crest had been reached,” says Dr. Suzanne Van Cooten, hydrologist-in-charge at the NOAA National Weather Service Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center in Slidell, Louisiana.

“This visual information really helps us improve our forecasts so we can provide critical information to those in an affected area.”

Scientists piloted the Griffon Outlaw G2E UAS from MSU’s Raspet Flight Research Center in Starkville, Mississippi. The UAS was equipped with the Overwatch Imaging TK-5 payload, which is able to take, process and transmit images with 6-inch resolution when flying 4,500 feet above the ground.

The images were transmitted to the High Performance Computing Collaboratory at MSU, and were available for immediate download by NOAA’s NWS Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center.

Using this information, NOAA forecasters refined forecasts that are important to local emergency managers, the public and farmers in the area.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 4 also downloaded the data for real-time examination and assessment.

“Aerial imagery and other data made available from unmanned aircraft systems is increasingly showing its value as a resource to provide our local, state, and federal emergency managers with actionable information needed to most effectively perform their duties,” explains Travis Potter, Remote Sensing and UAS Coordinator for FEMA 4.

“The information provided from this operation could be extremely useful toward helping folks on the ground to efficiently distribute resources, manage evacuations, and aid in future recovery efforts.”

Once the UAS landed, scientists retrieved higher resolution images that were stored onboard the UAS. These images can now be used to improve flood prediction models.

“We’re really pleased with the results of this fixed-wing unmanned aircraft system,” says Capt. Philip Hall, director of NOAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program.

“The unmanned aircraft and payload shows great potential to provide forecasters with valuable data to improve forecasts as well as flood models. We look forward to continuing to work with the Northern Gulf Institute and NOAA’s National Weather Service to transition the technology into operations.”